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AM. PHOTO-LITRO. CO. NN. (OSBDRNES PROCESS) CJT 'UNEF S TE FTCFL.

EDYVARD GONROY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING COB/KS.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that T, EDWARD CoNRoY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Machine forCutting Corks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making a part of this speciiication.

Figure 1, is a top or birds eye view of the improved machine, with thecircular cutter plate removed, and its outline represented by bluelines. Fig. 2, is a vertical transverse section of ditto at the line 1,1, of Fig. l. Fig. 3, is a vertical longitudinal section of the same atthe line 2, 2, of Fig. l. Fig. Li, represents the cam through whoseagency the sliding plate is moved to the rough pieces of cork to be cut,and the machine is fed with the same. Fig. 5, is a section of themovable plate for sharpening the beveled cutting edges of the rotatingcutter.

Similar letters in the figures refer to corresponding parts.

rThe nature of this invention and improvement consists in the employmentof certain appliances, in connection with the rotary cutters, andsharpening device described in my cork cuttingmachine patented the 20thof April, 1858, as will enable the former to more effectually cut thecorks, the latter to be more simply operated, and the corks to beautomatically, and in a more simple and correct manner, brought andembraced between revolving heads while being cut, and dischargedtherefrom, than heretofore.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

The frame A, is made of a rectangular form of suitable size, strengthand material to contain and support the several parts of the machine,and within this frame A, is arranged an upright sliding frame B, havinghorizontal right angled plates C, secured to its upper and lower ends,whose bent ends slide on horizontal guides D, fastened to the upper andlower transverse timbers of the frame A. Vithin the frame B, is arrangedthe cutter shaft E, which is slightly inclined from a vertical line togive the required taper to the cork being cut, and whose lower end isstepped in the end of an upright adjusting screw, passing through thelower beam of the frame B,

and by which" means the shaft E, can be raised or lowered to suit thedesired thickness of the cork to be cut, the upper end of said shaft E,being inclosed in a sliding boX or plate p, provided with an adjustingscrew s, for regulating the inclination of the shaft E, and consequentlythe taper of the cork. To the top of this sliding frame B, is securedone end of a curved bar F, the opposite end of which extends upward andoutward from the side of the same, and is provided with dovetailedguides between which the sharpening device Gr, is arranged. Thissharpening device consists of a plate G, whose end next the rotatingcutter plate H, is tapered and made in the form of a segment of acircle, to correspond with the bevels and curve of the cutting edges ofthe rotating cutter plate H, from the lower surface of which projectsdownward a pin or stud I, against which the elastic end of a bent springJ, presses, to keep it against the curved edges of a cam plate K,secured to the top of the frame A, which serves to periodically bringthe sharpening plate or device, in the proper relation to the edges ofthe cutters, during their revolutions, to sharpen the same.

Motion is communicated to the cutter shaft E, by means of a band L,passing around a band wheel L, secured on a horizontal transverse shaftM, on which is also secured a somewhat smaller band wheel or groovedpulley M, around which is passed a band M2, twisted and also passedaround a grooved pulley MS, secured on a horizontal shaft N, turninginboxes secured to lugs, suspended from the frame. On this shaft is formeda screw or worm O, which meshes in gear with a pinion O', secured on theend of a longitudinal shaft O2, supported in boxes on the frame A, andextending from one side to the other, and having a cam O3, secured nearits center, the segmental portions of which are of different diametersor radii, and joined by curved surfaces, for giving the requiredmovement to the slide frame B. On the end of the horizontal shaft O2,opposite to that on which the pinion O', is secured, is attached a bevelcog wheel P, which meshes in gear with a similar sized bevel cog wheelP, secured on the lower end of an inclined shaft P2, turning in suitableboxes projecting from the side of the frame A, and having on itsopposite or uppermost end a cam Q, the enlarged half of which is made inthe form of a semi-circle, while the reduced portion is in the form of asegment of a circle concentric with the first portion, the peripheriesof the two being joined by curved surfaces, one of which curves 1s moreupright in its curve, in relation to the peripheries, than the other. Onthis shaft P2, immediately next the cam Q, is secured a bevel wheel B,on the bevel surface of which are formed cogs, extending nearly one halfaround the said bevel surface, the remaining portion being blank, inorder that the said cogs shall, during the revolutions of the bevelwheel R, give a full revolution to a smaller bevel cog wheel S, withwhich it gears, at every revolution as it passes the same, and allow thesaid bevel cog wheel S, to remain in a state of rest during theremainder of its circuit, for the purpose hereinafter stated. This lastmentioned bevel cog wheel S, is placed loosely on the end of ahorizontal shaft T, turning in boxes on top of the front part of theframe A, being prevented from turning on said shaft T, by a cog or pin,which enters a longitudinal slot in the periphery of the Same whichadmits of the longitudinal movement of the shaft T, through the bevelcog wheel S, said shaft being surrounded by a spiral spring T', which iscompressed between one of the boxes in which it rests, and a cog or pinon its periphery, so as to keep its outer rounded end always pressed incontact with the irregular periphery of the cam Q. The opposite end ofthis shaft T, is serrated, or provided with points, and immediatelyopposite, and on the same horizontal line, is secured to a slottedsliding plate U, a similar serrated or pointed hub U', which turns in ajournal box rising from the end of the slotted plate U, and betweenwhich and t-he shaft T, the cork is held and revolved during the processof being cut.

Inside the upper front timber of the frame A, and at right angles to andabove the plane of the upper surface of the same, is arranged ahorizontal sliding plate V, moving in dovetail guides at its edges, andbent vertically at right angles at its front end, and having ahorizontal dovetail slot on the front surface of the bent portion, inwhich is inserted and slides a slide W, greater in length than the widthof the sliding plate V, and armed on its front surface with two or moresharp pins, which project the required distance therefrom to enable themto draw the uncut cork from t-he bottom of the trunk X, when insertedinto the side of the same. This sliding plate V, is attached to the endof an obtuse angled lever Y, by a screw passing through a slot in thesaid end of the lever and entering the sliding plate V, which angularlever Y, is secured to the top of the frame A, by a fulcrum at its bentor angular part, and is provided with a spring Z, which presses againstits front edge for the purpose of always keeping its end against theperiphery of an irregular formed cam a, secured on the inclined shaftP2. One portion of this cam a, is in the form of a semi-circle, and fromone of its terminations, there extends a curved eccentric surface, whosecurve bisects a line tangential with a circle scribed from the center ofthe inclined shaft P2, and extending from a segmental surface of greaterradius than the semi-circular portion, to which it is joined by astraight surface, tangential with a small circle also scribed from thecenter of the inclined shaft.

The operation of the machine is as follows llfotion being communicatedto the horizontal driving shaft M, by any convenient power, a revolvingmotion is given the rotating cutters, and horizontal and inclined shaftsO2, P2, respectively, through the bands L, M2, screws O, and cog wheelO', which causes the following eil'ects to be produced through therespective agencies of parts hereafter detailed in their regular orderof action. We will suppose the several parts in the position representedin Fig. l, of the drawings, with a cork to be cut firmly embracedbetween the pointed surface of the hub U', and the corresponding surfaceof the arbor or shaft T, and the cam O3, in the relation to the frictionroller .5, on the sliding frame B, which is constantly pressed againstits periphery by the spiral spring c, represented. The cogs on thebeveled surface of the wheel R, being meshed in gear with the bevel cogwheel S, or pinion, will turn the same, and the shaft or arbor T, onwhich it is attached, and with it the cork, in such a manner as to causethe same to be efectua-lly cut by the swift revolution of the cutters H,past its revolving surface, as described in my former patent beforereferred to in this specification. After this part of the process isperformed, the semi-circular portions of the cams O3, a, and Q, willhave respectively passed in their revolutions the friction roller Z), onthe sliding frame B, end of the bent or angular lever Y, and rounded endof the arbor or shaft T, which have been respectively pressed againstthem by the springs c, Z, and T, and the sliding frame B, and rotatingcutter plate H, attached thereto will be withdrawn from the cork, duringthe passage of the abrupt curved portion of the periphery of the cam O3,next the friction roller Z9, on the same, and simultaneous with thisaction, the shaft or arbor T, which, having made a revolution throughthe action of the bevel pinion S, on'its end, and the bevel cogs on thewheel Q, ceases to turn, and is then withdrawn from the cork by its endmoving on to the smaller segmental portion of the. periphery of the camQ, so as to disengage its serrated or pointed end from the said cork toallow of its ready discharge from the machine in a finished state.Immediately after this disengagement and discharge of the finished cork,the curved eccentric surface of the cam a, acts upon the bent or angularlever Y, and by forcing this end from it, vibrates the other, so as toslide the plate V, forward, and with it the sliding plate lV, on itsfront end, one of the ends of which latter (WV), is kept pressed beyondthe sides of the sliding plate V, by a spring d, so as to bring thepoints on its front surface in the proper relation to the cork in thebottom of the upright trunk X, through which the rough corks are fed tothe machine, and yet admit it to be slid with the same. The plate andpoints W, on its front surface are thus pressed forward by the eccentricportion of the cam a, as stated, and the points enter, and thus takehold of the lowest piece of cork in the upright trunk X, and after thiseccentric portion of the cam a, passes the end of the angular lever Y,in its revolution, the said end of the lever Y, is allowed to againapproach the shaft P2, and rest against the segmental portion of theperiphery of the cam a, which causes the cork attached to the prongs orpoints on the plate to be drawn with the vibration of the opposite endof the lever Y, between the serrated pointed surfaces of the hub U', andshaft or arbor T, where it will remain until the said shaft or arbor isforced toward the hub U, so as to securely embrace the cork between thetwo, by the action of the abrupt surface, between the two segments ofcircles of the cam Q, the said slide W, moving longitudinally with thecork and holding it firmly until embraced as stated, after which thesliding plate V, and its attachments are slid from the cork and thepoints or prongs of the slide W, entirely withdrawn from the same, andthe cogs on the beveled wheel R, during their revolution, again comeinto gear with the cog wheel or pinion S, and

the abrupt portion of the cam, acts on the friction roller b, andpresses the sliding frame B, and the rotating cutter H, turning on thesame forward, and in this manner cuts another cork. Tn this manner theoperation is continued at each revolution of the arbor or shaft T, atwhose end it is held, and the rotating cutter H, being successivelysharpened by the sharpening device being periodically brought intocontact with them, as before stated, at the finishing of each cork.

Many of the working parts of this machine may be duplicated if desired,so as to cause a cork to be cut at both sides of the machine, and inthis manner double the number of corks can be cut.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

l. The combination and arrangement of the sliding plate V, sliding plateand spring or pointers W, in front of the same, vibrating angular leverY, and cams a, a, on inclined revolving shaft P2, partly cogged wheel l,and spring arbor or shaft T, for

.placing and securing the rough pieces of corks to be cut between thepointed end of the said arbor or shaft T, and correspondingly pointedrevolving hub U, the whole being constructed and operating substantiallyas before described.

2. T claim the combination of the cani K, secured to the top of theframe A, and curved spring J, with the sharpening device G, and rotatingcutter plate H, for sharpening the cutters after they have cut the cork,and are in the act of being again withdrawn and moved toward the arboror shaft T, as described.

3. I also claim the combination of the cani O3, and friction roller Z),with the sliding frame B, as set forth.

EDWARD CONROY.

lVitnesses FRANCIS J. NrcHoLLs, HENRY Dawes.

